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Winter tyre laws
Below you can find more information about winter tyre laws in your country.
Albania
- No winter tyres mandatory.
- Studs not allowed
Andorra
- No winter tyres mandatory
- M+S and Snowflake-on-the-Mountain symbol
- Snow chains, indicated by road signs
- Snow chains must be used if winter condition or signs indicate
Austria
- Situationally depending on winterly road conditions from 1.10 - 31.5
- Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
- M+S marking
- Min. tread depth: 4.0mm
- If summer tyres are fitted chains for one driven axle are mandatory
- Studded tyres are allowed from 1.11 - 15.4.
- If studded tyres are fitted they are mandatory for all axles (incl. trailer)
Belarus
- Winter tyres mandatory from 1st December to 28th February
- valid up to 3.5 t vehicles
- min. tread depth 4.0 mm
- Winter tyres have to be mounted on all 4 axles
- Studded tyres can be used as all other winter tyres
Belgium
- M+S tyres with lower speed index accepted from 1st October to 30th April (labelling the max speed in the dashboard mandatory)
- M+S marked tyres with same/higher speed index accepted all the year round
- Alpine symbol tyres with smaller speed index accepted all the year round (labelling the max speed in the dashboard mandatory)
Bosnia and Herzegowina
- Winter tyres mandatory from 15.11.- 15.04.
- valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight and not more than 8 seats
- M+S marking
- min. tread depth 4.0 mm
- studs are not allowed
Bulgaria
- No winter tyres mandatory
- Studs not allowed
Croatia
- Winter tyres mandatory
- From 15.11. - 15.4.
- Up to 3.5 tons
- M+S marking
- Min. tread depth 4,.0 mm
Cyprus
- No winter tyres mandatory
- valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
Czech Republic
- Depending on winter weather conditions
Denmark
- No winter tyes mandatory
- Studded tyres allowed from 1/11 until 15/4
Estonia
- Winter tyres mandatory from 01.12. - 01.03.
- M+S marking
- min. tread depth 3.0 mm
- Studded tyres can be used from 15.10. - 01.04.
Finland
- Mandatory to use winter tyres 1st December to last day of February
- Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
- Studded tyres can be used From 1st November to the 1st Monday after Easter, outside this time can be used if "winter" conditions
- Valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
France
- Situational winter tyre obligation in places indicated by road signs depending on winter weather conditions
- M+S and Snowflake-on-the-Mountain symbol
- Snow chains, indicated by road signs
- Snow chains must be used if winter condition or signs indicate
Germany
- Depending on winter weather conditions
- Situational winter tyres are mandatory
- valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
- M+S marking
Greece
- No winter tyres mandatory
- Valid up to 3.5 tons
- Snow chains allowed, max. speed limit 50 km/h
Hungary
- No winter tyres mandatory
Iceland
- No winter tyres mandatory
Ireland
- No winter tyres mandatory
- valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
Italy
- Winter Tyre Obligation in places from 15.11.2015 - 15.04.2015
- Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
- M+S marking
- Extension: 1 month for mounting (15.10 - 15.11) and 1 month for dismounting (15.04 - 15.5)
- It's strongly recommended to fit 4 winter tyres with a minimum tread depth of 4 mm
- Winter Tyres allowed in summer (16.05 - 14.10) if the speed index is the same or higher of the one in the vehicle registration paper
Latvia
- Winter tyres mandatory from 01.12. - 01.03.
- M+S marking
- min. tread depth 4.0 mm
- Studded tyres can be used from 01.10. - 01.05.
Liechtenstein
- No general winter tyre regulations, regional regulations are possible in winter road conditions (f.e Pass-Roads)
- Min. tread depth for winter tyres 1.6mm
- In case of an accident with summer tyres in wintry conditions, be aware of liability issues
- If authorities announce snow chain obligation, only snow chains are permitted (four-wheel drive may be excluded)
- Use of snow chains in case of respective road signs and conditions
- Studded tyres are permitted for vehicles <7.5 t GVW between November 1 and April 30 or on snow-covered roads
- Max speed 80 km/h
- Vehicles with studded tyres have to be labeled with a sticker 80 km/h
Lithuania
- Winter tyres mandatory from 01.11. - 01.04.
- M+S marking
- min. tread depth 3.0 mm
- Studded tyres can be used as all other winter tyres during the mandatory winter period
Luxembourg
- Depending on winter weather conditions
- valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
- M+S marking
- Cars has to be equipped with 4 tyres carring the same marking
- on the sidewall (4 *, 4MO, 4MS, 4Snowflake...)
- studded tyres allowed from 01.12. - 31.03
- recommended min. tread depth 4.0 mm
Macedonia
- Winter tyres mandatory from 15.11. - 15.03.
- M+S and Snowflake-on-the-Mountain marking
- min. tread depth 4.0 mm
- studs not allowed
Malta
- No winter tyres mandatory
- Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
Moldavia
- Depending on winter weather conditions from 01.12. - 01.03.
- Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
- M+S marking
- Studs allowed from 01.12. - 01.03 (only in case factual snow conditions)
Montenegro
- Depending on winter weather conditions
- From 15.11. - 31.3.
- Winter tyre mandatory up to 3.5 tons
- M+S marking
- Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
Netherlands
- No winter tyres mandatory
Norway
- Depending on winter weather conditions
- Valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
- M+S especially developed for winter use and/or 3PMSF
- Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
- Studded tyres allowed
- From 1st November to the first Monday after Easter in the South
- From 15th October to 1st May in the North
Poland
- No winter tyre mandatory
- Valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
- Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice.
- Studded tyres not allowed
Portugal
- No winter tyres mandatory
Romania
- Depending on winter weather conditions
- Valid up to 3.5 tones vehicle weight
- M+S marking
Russia
- Winter tyres mandatory from 1. Dec. - 28. Feb.
- M+S as well as Snowflake-on-the-Mountain symbol
- Min. tread depth 4.0 mm
- If using studded tyres, they have to be on all positions
- Winter tyres have to be mounted on all positions
- Studs are forbidden from 1st June - 30th August
Serbia / Kosovo
- Depending on winter weather conditions
- From 1.11. - 31.3.
- Winter tyres are mandatory up to 3.5 tons
- M+S marking
- Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
Slovakia
- Depending on winter weather conditions
- From 15.11. - 31.3.
- Winter tyres are mandatory
- valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
- M+S marking
- Min. tread depth 3 mm
- Snow chains must be used if signs indicate and can be used if winter condition.
- Forbidden to use spike tyres. Only ambulances can use spike tyres.
Slovenia
- Winter tyres mandatory from 15.11.-15.03.
- valid up to 3.5 tones vehicle weight
- M+S marking
- min. tread depth 3.0 mm
- studs not allowed
Spain
- Depending on winter weather conditions
- Situational winter tyres are mandatory
- Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
- M+S marking
- Min. tread depth 1.6 mm
Sweden
- Depending on winter weather conditions from 01.12. - 31.03.
- Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
- M+S and/or Snowflake-on-the-Mountain marking
- Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
- List of approved winter tyres on www.dackinfo.se
- Studded tyres allowed 01.10. - 15.04.
Switzerland
- No general winter tyre regulations, regional regulations are possible in winter road conditions (f.e Pass-Roads)
- Min. tread depth for winter tyres 1.6 mm
- In case of an accident with summer tyres in wintry conditions, be aware of liability issues
- If authorities announce snow chain obligation, only snow chains are permitted (four-wheel drive may be excluded)
- Use of snow chains in case of respective road signs and conditions
- Studded tyres are permitted for vehicles <7.5 t GVW between November 1 and April 30 or on snow-covered roads
- Max speed 80 km/h
- Vehicles with studded tyres have to be labeled with a sticker 80 km/h
Turkey
- Valid for just commercial vehicles (including taxi, light trucks, trucks, buses)
- Winter tyres are mandatory from 01. December. - 01. April
Ukraine
- No winter tyres mandatory
United Kingdom
- No winter tyres mandatory
- valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
